Wings open at home against Predators, close on road in Colorado

DETROIT — The Wings will indeed open at home on Oct. 12 either against a Ryan Suter-less Nashville Predators or have they’ll have the prized defenseman on their blue line the 2012-13 season to face his former team.

The NHL released the entire schedule and can be viewed in full on nhl.com

Highlights include…

All four Original Six teams from the Eastern Conference will come to town: Boston (Dec. 10), Montreal (Jan. 30) and the New York Rangers (March 20) will visit Joe Louis Arena.

Detroit will also host the Toronto Maple Leafs in this year’s Winter Classic on Jan. 1 at Michigan Stadium.

The Wings will be on a three-game road trip prior to playing in their second Winter Classic — Carolina (Dec. 26), at Pittsburgh (Dec. 27) and Ottawa (Dec. 29).

Pittsburgh, New Jersey and Winnipeg are the three Eastern Conference clubs the Red Wings will play home and home.

Washington visits Joe Louis Arena for a second straight season on Dec. 7.

The Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings play in Detroit on Nov. 29 and Dec. 18.

The Wings will make their return to Winnipeg for the first time since the 1996 playoffs on Oct. 27.